Core transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for replacing the transfer core of a core supported package with a replacement core includes a frame supported endless conveyor with a core replacement station. A series of spaced yarn package supports are carried by the conveyor. An indexing means is provided for placing the supports containing the yarn packages at the core replacement station. At this station a puller assembly is provided to grip the transfer core and extract it from the yarn package. Package retention mechanism is also provided which is adapted to cooperate with the puller assembly for preventing axial movement of the package during removal of the transfer core.

1 1 Sept. 23, 1975 1 1 CORE TRANSFER APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Larry Dean Dellinger, Mount Holly,

[73] Assignee: Technical Equipment Company of Gastonia, lnc., Gastonia, NC,

22 Filed: Mar. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 448,061

[52] US. Cl. 28/1 R; 242/1 [51] int. Cl. D01H 9/00; D02G 1/20 [58] Field of Search 28/1 R, 21, 20; 57/52;

68/189, 198; 242/1 R, 46.6; 294/8612, 87 R; 29/200 D; 214/1 B5, 8.5 F

3,833,974 9/1974 Girard 28/1 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 935,705 2/1948 France 242/466 1,259,559 3/ 1961 France 68/198 1,364,639 5/1964 France 1 57/52 1,962,525 6/1970 1 Germany 294/87 Primary ExaminerR0bert R. Mackey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for replacing the transfer core of a core supported package with a replacement core includes a frame supported endless conveyor with a core replacement station. A series of spaced yarn package supports are carried by the conveyor. An indexing means is provided for placing the supports containing the yarn packages at the core replacement station. At this station a puller assembly is provided to grip the transfer core and extract it from the yarn package. Package retention mechanism is also provided which is adapted to cooperate with the puller assembly for preventing axial movement of the package during removal of the transfer core.

5 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975

F/GJ

Sheet 1 of 14 US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of 14 3,906,597

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 4 of 14 3,906,597

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 5 of 14 3,906,597

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 6 of 14 3,906,597

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 7 of 14 3,906,597

FIG 7 US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 8 of 14 3,906,597

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 9 of 14 3,906,597

FIG. 9

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 10 of 14 3,906,597

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 11 of 14 3,906,597

FIG

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 12 0f 14 3,906,597

7/ U 8 FIG. /2

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 13 of 14 3,906,597

FIG/4 FIG. I

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 14 of 14 3,906,597

FIG. 17

CORE TRANSFER APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The apparatus described and claimed herein embodies various modifications and improvements of the apparatus described and claimed in a pending application Ser. No. 276,318, filed July 31, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,833,974 granted Sept. 10, 1974. Application Ser. No. 276,318 is a continuationin-part of application Ser. No. 105,920 filed Jan. 12, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,681,007, granted Aug. 1, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an apparatus for processing yarn packages for dyeing and, in particular, to an apparatus for replacing a relatively impervious transfer core of a yarn package with a dye penetrating foraminous core.

Yarn that has been processed for dyeing may be in the form of bulked continuous filament thermoplastic yarn such as polyester, nylon or cellulose triacetate yarn, as well as spun yarn, such as direct spun rayon having residual shrinkage of up to when expoded to conditions of high humidity or when immersed in aqueous solutions, or acrylic yarn having high residual shrinkage by reason of unrelaxed heat sensitive fibers in the yarn. This yarn is generally wound into package form about a cardboard or paper transfer core or tube such that the outer portion of the package is at substantially a desired bulk level whereas the inner portion is somewhat below this level. As disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,425,l 10. the bulk level of the inner portion of the package may be increased by simultaneously removing the cardboard package core while inserting a perforate dye core or tube of a predetermined smaller diameter than the cardboard core. The inner portion of the highly stretchable yarn then contracts (and gains bulk) about the perforate core.

Apparatus for replacing the cardboard core with a perforate core is disclosed in the aforesaid patent. However, such apparatus is subject to various drawbacks. The apparatus employs a vertically movable mandrel upon which is placed a perforate cone. Upon actuation, the perforate core is pushed downwardly into engagement with a cardboard core in the yarn package, whereupon the continued downward movement causes the perforate core to push the cardboard core completely out of the package. Owing to the pressure and movement of the entering perforated core, there is a tendency of the yarn package to come apart and unduly distort. The apparatus is only able to process yarn packages singly whereas multiple package processing is more desirable for economy and efficiency purposes. Further, owing to the fact that both the carboard transfer core and perforated dye core si multaneously move through the yarn it has been found necessary to sandwich a paper or knit sleeve or sock between the yarn and the transfer core to serve as a bridge or shield during transfer. Without the sleeve it has been observed that some of the strands of yarn become trapped between the ends of the transfer core and the dye core during the operation, thereby disturbing the continuity of the yarn.

As set forth in the above-referenced Pat. No.

3,681,007, it has been found that the above drawbacks and disadvantages are overcome by placing a replacement dye core within the cardboard transfer core and thereafter pulling the cardboard core out of the yarn package to permit the package to contract around the replacement core. Apparatus for performing such a process has been set forth in the above referenced copending continuation-in-part application Ser. No. 276,318. While achieving satisfactory results, further improvements have now been provided for holding the perforate core while removing the cardboard core. ejecting the cardboard core with a knockout bar, spring loading the punch out sleeve to accommodate different lengths of cardboard core, providing a range of compression for the package to avoid damage for different types of yarn, and improving the drive means and sequence of operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus adapted to continuously process multiple yarn packages by replacing the impervious transfer core of the yarn package with a foraminous replacement core of a predetermined smaller diameter.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ap paratus of the foregoing type for continuously processing package cores and thereafter disposing of the transfer cores.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus which includes various modifications and improvements over the apparatus described and claimed in the above-referenced co-pending continuation-in part application Ser. No. 276.318.

The above and other objects are satisfied by an apparatus including an endless conveyor supported by a frame and a core replacement station adjacent the conveyor. A plurality of spaced apart yarn package supports are arranged on the conveyor. Indexing means are also present for sequentially indexing each of the supports at the core replacement station. A mechanism associated with the core replacement station is utilized for pulling the transfer core from each of the yarn packages conveyed to and indexed at the core replacement station. Also present at the feed station are means adapted to cooperate with the pulling means for preventing axial movement of the package during removal of the transfer core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view illustrating the core transfer apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the core pulling mechanism of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an end view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the hold down plate compressing the yarn before the core pulling head pulls the transfer core;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the core pulling head after removal of the transfer core from the yarn package;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 5 showing the core pulling head before grasping the transfer core with the hold down plate restraining the yarn package;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 showing the core pulling head after grasping the transfer core;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 showing the core pulling head after removal of the transfer core from the yarn package;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 showing the transfer core being removed from the core pulling head;

FIG. ll is a side plan of the mechanism for removing the transfer core from the core pulling head;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line l2l2 of FIG. 1] showing the transfer core removal mechanism before being activated to strike the transfer core;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 12 showing the transfer core removal mechanism after being activated and striking the transfer core;

FIG. I4 is a sectional view taken along the line l4l4 of FIG. 5 showing the drive mechanism for the ram;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 8 showing the assembly for gripping the transfer core;

FIG. I6 is a sectional view taken along the line 16-16 of FIG. 8 showing the assembly for gripping the resilient core during pulling of the transfer core and FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a modified form of transfer core ejector assembly showing the ejector chute with a moveable slide for pulling the core into the chute. which slide is an alternative to the knock out bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the core transfer apparatus of the invention includes frame 20 upon which is carried two spaced driven chains 21. A hyydraulic motor 21a drives the endless chains through spocket wheels 22 located at opposite ends of the frame. A series of spaced apart conveyor plates 23 are carried in parallel rows by the chains 21. Each conveyor plate 23 carries a yarn package support assembly 24. As illus' trated in the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, support assembly 24 includes annular horizontal spacing plate 25 mounted on conveyor plate 23 through vertical pillars 26. Protuding through a central hole in spacing plate 25 is vertical mandrel 27 which is secured to conveyor plate 23. The core 28 fits over the mandrel 27 with the lower end of core 28 protruding through the plate 25 and resting in a recess 26a in the pillar 26.

A foraminous replacement core such as a coil spring or a perforated plastic tube of smaller diameter than the original cardboard transfer core 28 is placed over the mandrel as shown in FIG. 7. It is also contemplated that replacement core 29 be in the form of a spring. which is designed in such a way that the lacing when empty gives an efiectivc diameter to the spring which is larger than the inside diameter of the cardboard core 28. However, upon insertion of the spring 29 into the core. the nature of the lacing is such that the spring can be compressed within the cardboard core. The reason for such a tight fit is to permit little if any space to exist between the inside core of the yarn and the outside surface of the replacement core or spring. The replacement core 29 extends through the orifice in spacing plate 25 and rests in a recess in pillar 26 (see FIG. 7). Yarn package 30 is supported by spacing plate 25.

A core pulling station 31 is provided for cooperating in removing the transfer core 28 from the yarn packages 30. As illustrated in FIG. 4, 5 and 7, the station includes two core pulling assemblies 32, yarn package restraining assembly 33, transfer core removing head assembly 34, replacement core restraining assembly 35, aand a transfer core ejector 36. Although two core pulling assemblies are shown for a station, it will be understool that one of more core pulling assemblies and associated assemblies can be employed.

The yarn package restraining assembly 33 operates to arrest any possible movement of the yarn package 30 during transfer core removal; and it includes a com pression bar 37 to which are secured upper spacing plates 38 which, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, are adapted to abut the upper ends of the yarn packages during core transfer. Improper spacing of the yarn windings on core 28 is overcome by the downward movement of the plate 38, the bottom of which stroke insures that the yarn is in firm contact with the lower spacing plate 25. The relationship of the spacing plates to the elevation of the cores 30 is a constant which is maintained for uniform spacing of the yarns on the spring. It has been found desirable to have the plate 38 slightly compress the package (see FIG. 7), in order to loosen the grip of the yarn on the cardboard tube 28, and permit easier withdrawal. The axial compression of cross-wound packages, results in some relaxation of the yarn, and consequent easier withdrawal of the cardboard cores 28. Slight compression also provides a uniform containment between the spacing and the restraining plates, the distance between the plates being somewhat less than the normal distance between the ends of the yarn on an untreated package. The bar 37 and hold down plates 38 have central orifices 39 ex tending therethrough to permit the transfer cores 28 to be pulled therethrough. The area adjacent each orifice 39 in the bar 37 has a taper 40 to mate with a matching taper on the collct of a core pulling head.

The compression bar 37 is attached on each side to a roller chain 41 which permits the bar to be raised and lowered as desired during the sequential operation of the apparatus. The roller chains 41 run over sprockets 42 and are driven through shaft 43, sprockets 44 and 45, and chain 46 by hydraulic motor 47. The motor 47 has overdrive which provides low speed and high torque. The bar 37 reciprocates vertically along guide pins 48 secured on each side of the frame 20 through bushings 49.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 the core removing head assemblies 34 are illustrated. A pair of pulling head assemblies 50 are mounted at opposed sides of a ram SI. Each pulling assembly is in vertical axial alignment with the corresponding upper spacing plate 38 on the compression bar 37. Each pulling head assembly 50 (FIG. 7) includes a pilot post 52 which is adapted to internally and frictionally engage transfer core 28. A cylindrical collct 53 extends around the post 52 and is provided with a split skirt 54 (FIG. 15) adapted to be compressed inwardly by external pressure so that the core 28 can be gripped between the serrated inner jaws of the collet and the post 52. In the normal open position of the skirt, a cylindrical space is provided between the inner surface of the split skirt S4 and the bottom surface 55 of post 52. The spacing is sufficient to permit the transfer core to be disposed therein during engagement thereof. The gripping assembly formed from collet 53, skirt 54 and post 52 is secured together by means of bolts 56 and spacer S7.

A collet clamp ring 58 is adapted to frictionally engage split skirt 54 and compress the skirt inwardly toward post 52 to frictionally engage transfer core 28 therebetween as illustrated in FIG. 8. For this purpose the collet clamp ring 58 should be of somewhat larger diameter than the widest portion of the split skirt 54. A pair of integral wings 58a extend outwardly in opposite directions from the uppermost portion of the collet clamp ring. In order to permit reciprocation of the collet clamp ring between a lowermost position as illustrated in FIG. 8 adjacent the bottom of split skirt S4 to an uppermost position as illustrated in FIG. 7, travel rods 59 are provided. Rods 59 are secured to wings 5811 at their lowermost portions and are connected at their uppermost portions through compression bar 51 to a push bar 60.

The push bar 60 and the connected collet clamp ring 58 are free to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the ram 51. An air cylinder for each assembly 34 is mounted on a Ushaped member 62 which is secured to the ram 51. The piston 63 of the air cylinder 62 is afiixed to the push bar 60. Thus the air cylinder is adapted to reciprocate travel rods 59 to a lowermost and uppermost position in a preselected sequential manner. The entire assembly 34 is adapted to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly by the movement of the ram 51. Such ram SI reciprocates vertically along the guide pins 48 through bushings 64, which guide pins also serve to maintain the ram 51 and the compression bar 37 in vertical alignment. The ram 51 is attached on each side to a roller chain 65 which permits the ram to be raised and lowered as desired during the sequential operation of the apparatus. The roller chains 65 run over sprockets 66 and are driven through shaft 67, sprockets 58 and 69 and chain 70 by hydraulic motor 71.

lnterposed between the post 52 and the collet 53 is a punch out sleeve 72 which at its lower portion is the same size as the core 28 and at its upper end is smaller than the post 52. Such punch out sleeve is spring loaded by spring 73 and is of sufficient length so that in its lowermost position it will extend to the upperjaws of the collet (FIG. As the post 52 and collet 53 move upwardly when gripping the core 28, the post moves the sleeve 72 upwardly above the upper jaws of the collet (FIG. 9).

The transfer core ejector assembly 36 is illustrated in FIGS. 4, ll, 12 and 13. A pair of pillow blocks 74 are mounted on each side of the frame and support a shaft 75. Secured on each side of the shaft and adjacent the pillow blocks are links 76 to which is affixed a knock out bar 77. Such bar 77 is made up of L-shaped side arms 77a and a cross bar 77b. The upper ends of the arms 770 are positioned substantially at right angles to the shaft 75. Secured to the center of the shaft 75 is a bell crank 78, connected by a pivot pin 79 to a female clevis 80, to which is affixed the piston 81 of a hydraulic cylinder 82. The upper end of the cylinder 82 is connected by a pivot pin 83 to an eye bracket 84 mounted on the frame.

An actuator rod 85 is connected at one end by a clevis pin 86 to a clevis 87 connected to one of the links 76. The other end of the actuator rod is slideable in an actuator bar support 88 mounted on the frame. Such actuator bar has an actuator 89 which upon vertical movement of the rod 85 will contact an upper microswitch 90 on its upward stroke and a lower microswitch 91 on its downward stroke. It will be seen that the upward movement of the link 76 will serve to actuate the upper microswitch 90 while downward movement of the link 76 will serve to actuate the lower microswitch 91 (FIGS. 11, I2 and 13). During the time that the core pulling assemblies 32 are gripping and pulling the cores 28, the knock out bar 77 is rotated out of the way of the core pulling operation (FIG. 12).

When the cores have been withdrawn from the yarn packages 30, the cylinder 82 is actuated causing the shaft 75 to rotate the knock out bar 77 so that it strikes the cores 28 in its path and knocks them off the posts 52 (FIGS. 10 and 12). Such cores may be knocked into an ejector chute 92 (FIG. 3).

The transfer core restraining assemblies 35, which further arrest the movement of the replacement core 29 during the transfer core pulling operation, are illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and I6. Bolted on each side of the frame 20 and extending across such frame is a U- shaped cylinder support 93, which is positioned to be parallel to the compression bar 37 and the ram 51. Mounted on each side of the cross-member of such cylinder support 93 is a hydraulic cylinder 94. Each cylinder is positioned so that its piston rod will align vertically with the center of the corresponding mandrel 27. Secured across the top of the cross member of the cylinder support 93 is an anvil 95. Affixed to the end of the piston rod of the cylinder 94 is a cylindrical pin 96, the upper end of which is tapered. Such pin 96 is provided with an adjusting collar 97 and is spring loaded by a spring 98 interposed between such collar 97 and recess in the base of the mandrel 27. There are aligning holes in the cylinder support 93, anvil 95, conveyor plate 23, pillars 26 and the center of the mandrel 27, so that the piston rod and pin 96 are free to move up wardly and downwardly through such holes. The mandrel 27 is provided with a four-section locking ring 99 having fingers 99a which extend into the center hole of the mandrel (FIG. 16). When the cylinder 94 is actuated, the piston rod and pin 96 move upwardly and make contact with the fingers 99a of locking ring 99, thereby forcing the sections of such ring outwardly. These sections are thus pressed against the replacement or spring core 29 serving to hold such core while the transfer core 28 is being withdrawn from the yarn package.

In operation, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a spring or perforated replacement core 29 is placed over mandrel 27 by the machine operator. Next, the yarn package 30 containing the transfer core 28 is placed over the mandrel 27 until it rests on spacing plate 25. Another core and yarn package is placed on the aligned companion mandrel on the chain conveyor. Next the conveyor chain is energized. The mandrel loading procedure is repeated for the remaining mandrels as they turn to their upright position. Timing cams (not shown) may be employed actuating conventional four-way solenoid valves which, in turn, energize the air cylinders The timing cams sequentially actuate the hydraulic motor 21a, hydraulic motor 47, hydraulic motor 71. hydraulic cylinders 61, hydraulic cylinders 94, hydraulic motor 7I and hydraulic cylinder 82 as described in the sequence of operation of the apparatus. This controlling or indexing means is conventional and well known. It comprises two solenoid valves of the type manufactured by the Skinner Valve Company and two limit switches of the type manufactured by the Micro Switch Products Co. The moving conveyor first hits a first limit switch which actuates a first solenoid valve which slows the conveyor motion. As the conveyor moves further it hits a second limit switch which actuates a second solenoid valve which stops the conveyor at a predetermined position with the core under the transfer core removal station. Such second limit switch also starts the core removal cycle. The final ejection of the core starts the movement of the conveyor again to repeat the cycle. The use of hydraulic motors and cylinders functioning at predetermined time cycles provides a positive and efficient operation of the apparatus. Furthermore, the use of a hydraulic motor (71) with overdrive (low speed high torque) permits a wide range of compression so that such compression can be varied for different types of yarn and prevent damage to the yarn.

As a pair of mandrel supported yarn packages approach the core pulling station 31, they are indexed and placed in vertical alignment with the core removing head assembly 34 and the package restraining as' sembly 33. At this point, both the core restraining as semblies and the core removing assemblies are in their raised position. Next, the hydraulic motor 47 is actuated causing the compression bar 37 to descend bringing the spacing plates 38 into frictional engagement with the top surfaces of the yarn packages 30. A microswitch 200 connected by linkage (not shown) to compression bar 37 stops the downward motion of such bar when the proper Compression has been achieved. Simultaneously therewith or shortly thereafter, hydraulic motor 71 is actuated thereby driving ram 51 downwardly to permit the pulling head assemblies 50 to descend about the top end of transfer cores 28. After each post 52 has descended into the corresponding transfer core and the associated collet 53 has been concentrically disposed about the core 28, the air cylinders 61 driving the collet clamp rings 58 are activated to lower the rings into compressing engagement with the split skirts 54. This movement drives the split skirts toward the posts 52 thereby causing gripping of the upper end of the transfer cores 28. Prior to this time or before the transfer cores are pulled from the yarn packages the air cylinders 94 are actuated causing the tapered ends of the pins 96 to engage the fingers 99a of the locking rings 99 and force the sections of such rings outwardly against the spring cores. This will prevent the replacement core 28 from moving with respect to the yarn packages during the core removing operation.

Next, hydraulic motor 71 is actuated to raise the ram 51 and the pulling head assemblies 50 to pull the transfer cores 28 out of the yarn packages 30. The holddown plate hydraulic motor 47 is then actuated to raise the compression bar 37 and release the yarn packages. Simultaneously therewith or sometime shortly thereafter, air cylinders 61 are actuated to raise push bars 60 to lift the collet clamp rings 58 to the position as illustrated in FIG. at which time the transfer cores 28 are released from the collets 53. When the transfer cores are released from the grip of the collets the spring loaded punch out sleeves 72 pushes the cores 28 downwardly. Simultaneously therewith, a microswitch 201 actuated by the upward motion of compression bar 37 through bar 202 puts the transfer core ejector assembly into operation. The air cylinder 82 is actuated putting the core ejector 36 into operation and causing the bar 77 to strike the released cores 28 and direct them into the ejector chute 92.

Thereafter, the entire operation is repeated with the next pair of yarn packages being indexed at the pulling station.

An alternative to the transfer core ejector assembly with the knockout bar 77 heretofore described is shown in FIG. 17. The end of the ejector chute 92 is provided with a moveable slide having sides a, an angular plate 100]) and supporting members 1006 and 100d. Bars 101, affixed to each side, are adapted to slide in channels 102 formed on each side of the chute 92 by bars 103 affixed to such sides. Secured to the supporting member 100d is a right angle member 104 to which is affixed a hydraulic cylinder 82a mounted underneath the bottom of the chute A channel 105 is cut in the bottom of the chute and supported on each side by bars 106. The moveable side is thus free to be moved in and out of the end of the chute by means of the cylinder 821:. A right angle member 107 affixed to one side 100a of the slide 100 is adapted to slide in the channel 107 cut in the top of the chute. This member 107 serves as an actuator to actuate the microswitches 90a and 90b mounted on the top of the chute in the same manner as the microswitches 90 and 9] were actuated in connection with the knockout bar heretofore described.

This alternative assembly operates in principle in the same way as the knockout bar 77. Just before the cores are ejected the moveable slide moves into position below the cores. As the cores fall the plate [001) hits the falling cores and pulls them into the chute.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the apparatus hereinbefore described. Such embodiments are considered to be within the scope of the invention. The above invention is not to be limited except as set forth in the following claims.

Having decribed the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for replacing the transfer core of a package having yarn wound around such core with a replacement core having a hollow center section inserted into such transfer core comprising:

a. an endless conveyor supported by a frame;

b. a transfer core removal station associated with the conveyor;

c. a plurality of spaced apart mandrels, each connected to said conveyor for supporting the package, transfer core and replacement core;

(1. indexing means connected to said apparatus for sequentially indexing each of said mandrels at said transfer core removal station;

e. gripping means associated with said transfer core removal station for gripping the transfer core;

f. means for locking said yarn package against axial movement;

g. means for holding the replacement core against axial movement during removal of the transfer core comprising a split locking ring extending around the mandrel and tapered means movable upwardly interiorly of the locking ring to expand the said ring outwardly to press against the internal surface of the hollow section of the replacement core and prevent the replacement core from axial movement; and

h. pulling means associated with the gripping means for pulling the gripped transfer core from said yarn package indexed at said station;

whereby the replacement core remains in position with the yarn package around it.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided at the transfer core removal station for ejecting the transfer core comprising means for striking the falling transfer core as it is released from the transfer core removal station and carrying it aside for collection of the transfer core.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the yarn package locking means compresses the yarn axially on the transfer core to loosen the grip of the yarn package on the transfer core and thereby facilitate removal of the transfer core,

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gripping means includes a post for insertion into the upper end of the transfer core, a clamp having a split skirt, and a constriction ring for engaging the skirt and compressing the transfer core between the skirt and post to thereby grip the core.

5. Apparatus for replacing the transfer core of a package having yarn wound around such core with a replacement core having a hollow center section inserted into such transfer core comprising:

a. an endless conveyor supported by a frame;

b. a transfer core removal station associated with the conveyor;

c. a plurality of spaced apart mandrels, each connected to said conveyor for supporting the package, transfer core and replacement core;

d. indexing means connected to said apparatus for sequentially indexing each of said mandrels at said transfer core removal station;

e. gripping meansassociated with said transfer core removal station for gripping the transfer core;

f. means for locking said yarn package against axial movement;

g. pulling means associated with the gripping means for pulling the gripped transfer core from said yarn package indexed at said station; and

h. means at the transfer core removal station for ejecting the transfer core comprising a knockout bar for striking the transfer core as it is released from the transfer core removal station and a chute adjacent the transfer core removal station for receiving the released transfer core, said chute having a slide movable in the end of said chute for striking the falling core and pulling it into the chute. 

1. Apparatus for replacing the transfer core of a package having yarn wound around such core with a replacement core having a hollow center section inserted into such transfer core comprising: a. an endless conveyor supported by a frame; B. a transfer core removal station associated with the conveyor; c. a plurality of spaced apart mandrels, each connected to said conveyor for supporting the package, transfer core and replacement core; d. indexing means connected to said apparatus for sequentially indexing each of said mandrels at said transfer core removal station; e. gripping means associated with said transfer core removal station for gripping the transfer core; f. means for locking said yarn package against axial movement; g. means for holding the replacement core against axial movement during removal of the transfer core comprising a split locking ring extending around the mandrel and tapered means movable upwardly interiorly of the locking ring to expand the said ring outwardly to press against the internal surface of the hollow section of the replacement core and prevent the replacement core from axial movement; and h. pulling means associated with the gripping means for pulling the gripped transfer core from said yarn package indexed at said station; whereby the replacement core remains in position with the yarn package around it.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided at the transfer core removal station for ejecting the transfer core comprising means for striking the falling transfer core as it is released from the transfer core removal station and carrying it aside for collection of the transfer core.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the yarn package locking means compresses the yarn axially on the transfer core to loosen the grip of the yarn package on the transfer core and thereby facilitate removal of the transfer core.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gripping means includes a post for insertion into the upper end of the transfer core, a clamp having a split skirt, and a constriction ring for engaging the skirt and compressing the transfer core between the skirt and post to thereby grip the core.
 5. Apparatus for replacing the transfer core of a package having yarn wound around such core with a replacement core having a hollow center section inserted into such transfer core comprising: a. an endless conveyor supported by a frame; b. a transfer core removal station associated with the conveyor; c. a plurality of spaced apart mandrels, each connected to said conveyor for supporting the package, transfer core and replacement core; d. indexing means connected to said apparatus for sequentially indexing each of said mandrels at said transfer core removal station; e. gripping means associated with said transfer core removal station for gripping the transfer core; f. means for locking said yarn package against axial movement; g. pulling means associated with the gripping means for pulling the gripped transfer core from said yarn package indexed at said station; and h. means at the transfer core removal station for ejecting the transfer core comprising a knockout bar for striking the transfer core as it is released from the transfer core removal station and a chute adjacent the transfer core removal station for receiving the released transfer core, said chute having a slide movable in the end of said chute for striking the falling core and pulling it into the chute. 